SPRING
2022
Routes and walks between Sicily and Tuscany
The entire Italian territory is full of trails and walks of varying difficulty that lead trekking enthusiasts to discover the unique places, landscapes and scenery that nature has given us and that man has also used as communication routes for millennia. In the following articles we will discover some Sicilian and Tuscan routes through which to find yourself in nature and let yourself be recharged with positive energy. The important thing is to always leave with a good pair of hiking shoes, appropriate clothing (it is always important to bring something waterproof) and, in the backpack, water and some snacks.
Trekking on Monte Pisano in Tuscany
There are so many paths on Monte Pisano, the simplest walk, which lasts just an hour, is the climb to Castellare di San Giuliano Terme. We are talking about one of the most characteristic excursions of the Pisan Mountains, a climb within a protected natural area in the south-western area from which it is possible to enjoy an authentic landscape that overlooks the Pisan and Lucca territories. On the top of the Castellare there is an archaeological site that allows you to know the history of these human settlements that from prehistory, passing through the Etruscan civilization, reach the Middle Ages. Another route on Monte Pisano, a little more challenging than the previous one, is the one that crosses the "Valle delle Fonti" where you can see the ancient waters collecting system that fed the Medici aqueduct. The route continues reaching Mirteto, a protected area of considerable historical interest with its monastery, dating back to the year 1000.
Trekking in Sicily
Sicily has a very large territory with many routes of different difficulties and rich in experiences. This time we focus on two truly unique routes, because it is not only on the top of the mountains that we can find breathtaking landscapes. The "Grotta di Santa Ninfa" nature reserve, in the province of Trapani, shows a landscape that has been shaped over time by atmospheric precipitation and is characterized by the presence of underground karst phenomena. The cave of Santa Ninfa is characterized by two superimposed galleries and several small tunnels engraved and shaped by the force of the waters of the Biviere stream that once completely filled the cavities. A path for caving enthusiasts and experts who will find a show made of columns and flows, stalactites and wall inflorescences that take the form of flowers and corals. In some areas of the cave, in the clear water of some tubs, it is possible to observe pisolites or cave pearls. For the next experience we move to Salina, the green pearl of the Aeolian Islands, a very particular island, in fact we can find and visit the highest peak of the entire archipelago, Monte Fossa delle Felci, which with its 968 m above sea level , gives a magical show. Starting from the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito, in the territory of the municipality of Leni, there are various paths that lead to the top. These are also quite challenging routes, but the landscape deserves all this commitment. The feeling of peace and tranquility that invades us during the climb is to be savored. In the presence of pines, centuries-old oaks, centuries-old holm oaks and evergreen shrubs of a younger generation, one feels part of a wonderful and complex world deserving of the deepest respect. Arrived almost at the top, a sudden break in the landscape brings the gaze back to the horizon.
Credits to Pisatoday.it, legambienteriserve.it, eolie.me.it and trekkingeolie.it